|
Matching Livestock Systems with Available Resources |
MEKARN Regional Conference 2007 |
Mulberry foliage was harvested at intervals of 6, 8, 10 or 12 weeks and separated into leaves and stems, simulating the use of the former as a protein supplement for goats/pigs and the latter as feedstock for gasification. The mulberry was planted in June 2005 with the first harvest 3 months later. The biomass was harvested by cutting the stems 40cm above soil level. Fertilization was 700 kg N/ha/year with effluent from a biodigester charged with pig manure and applied every week.
Annual DM yield of leaves decreased stems were increased as the harvest interval was increased from 6 to 12 weeks. Leaves accounted for 65% of the biomass DM at the 6 week interval decreasing to 55% at 12 weeks. Content of crude protein in DM of leaves and stems decreased linearly with increased harvest interval (from 22.6 to 17.5% for leaves and from 8.5 to 5.5% for stems).
It is concluded that harvesting mulberry foliage at intervals of 12 weeks optimizes total production of leaf protein and of stems.